Have you missed us??

So my last post I was thinking of all our ups and downs and crazy adventures God's taken us on... well we're about to embark on another one. Here it is people, all official:


WE ARE MOVING BACK.


Yes, that's right. 4 months later, after unpacking my closet (finally), I have to re-pack it and move back. Don't get me wrong people, I'm quite happy to do so. Basically J's job was not working out (not sure if I wrote about that or not) but for the last 2 months he's been looking for engineering jobs. There's been nothing. No calls. No openings. Rejecting at every turn. So we decided just to check out the listings for the lower mainland. And there were pages upon PAGES of advertisments for exactly what he's qualified for. It only makes sense.... there's nothing holding us here in Kamloops, the housing market was super cheap when we first were looking into moving here, but from then until now it has boomed insanely and now is really close to the same as Maple Ridge, etc.

All I know, is I am SOOOOOO EXCITED because I've missed everyone like crazy. I hate being homesick. In a way I'm disappointed things didn't work out for us up here, but in another way I'm glad we still took that leap of faith, and gave it a shot anyways. And very glad to come home.

So now it gets crazy. We have to find someone to complete our lease (until December), find a place in Pitt Meadows or Maple Ridge to rent (2 bedrooms - if anyone hears of anything, pleeeease let us know!!) and both of us find jobs. Mine at least isn't too hard to find something... J's applied to a ton so far, so please keep him in your prayers!!

LIFE IS CRAZY!!!!!

A Year Ago Today...

...I said "Forever" to the man of my dreams. I can't believe it's been a year already... it's been a year of ups and downs, of learning, but most of all discovering how amazing God is, and growing in Him. He's taken us through a lot, and through it all we've had to learn to lean on each other and our faith.

I'm excited for the next year together, and then many more after that!

A whole lot of Nothing.

Planned Nothingness so far has been awesome... we've just been hanging out and taking life as it comes. Friday night we went to watch a friend play soccer, and unfortunately hurt his ankle in the process. Afterwards we went to a restaurant for 2 for 1 appies. We had a smorgasbord of food between J and I... I ordered spring rolls and garlic ribs, and J ordered Shrimp and Crab Kisses (mushrooms stuffed with cheese, shrimp, and crab, and seasoning of some sort) and Sweet Thai Chili wings. My favourites were the Shrimp and Crab kisses and the garlic ribs. So tasty!

Yesterday we took a drive up to Barriere... We drove up one road until it turned into a dirt road, and then took the McClure ferry across the river. If any of you have been to Belize, this ferry is like a slightly more high tech version of the Belize ferry on cables that you wind across. This one has a small motor, but it too is on a cable to guide it across. It fits 2 cars. That's it. You drive down a dirt hill, over some wooden planks onto the small wooden dock and onto the boat. It makes Albion look positively glamorous. Good times!
Barriere is a really small little town, about 35 minutes north of Kamloops. We just wanted to check out some houses up there, although I don't really want to live out of town. Anyways, you really realize how big that fire was a few years back... The hillsides are all still black, I can't imagine what it was like when fire was ripping through those forests. It would've been very scary.

Today we didn't do a lot... We went to a church service, which unfortunately today was a little disappointing. The music wasn't nearly as good as it has been in the past, but at least the sermon was pretty good. I ended up having a nap in the afternoon, I was really tired for some reason. Then we had a couple friends over for whiskey and mountain bike videos. Ok, so I didn't actually have any whiskey, I made a couple pina coladas for me and the other girl that was there.

Jason and Andrew getting ready to drink straight whiskey

Post-whiskey faces

Our girlie drinks

Our post-pina colada tasting faces. Note the happiness.

And now I shall go to bed, and sleep in, and have a fantastic day, and GET PAID FOR IT! I love holidays. :)

Happy August!

Ok, so July was a slack-off month but this month I'll try to be better. We are booked almost solid every weekend from now until September... This coming weekend however, is planned Nothingness. We considered making plans because it's the long weekend but decided to just chillax around Kamloops and get some stuff done. I like that idea. 3 days of sleeping in, and just hanging out sounds fantastic to me!!

Today was a nice day, pretty warm as usual... about 34 degrees today, so not as hot as it has been but still hot enough... I was a little depressed as I was supposed to be in Vancouver tonight for a concert but opted not to go to save some money. A wise choice, but depressing nonetheless.

J is applying for engineering-type jobs, which is pretty stressful... He needs to find something this month ... his current job has him on with the expectation that he's going back to school in September. So either way, he's done at the end of the month. Please keep us in your prayers that he can find something asap and we can just get settled...

I'm off to bed, hope you all have a fine Thursday! :)

Bad Blogger - July update

Ok here are some pictures of our July thus far:

Camping on the Canada Day long weekend with friends

Visiting J's parents for his dad's 50th

Crazy thunderstorms and dust storms (this pic was taken during what was said to have been the worst thunderstorm in a decade. It doesn't do the storm any justice, that cloud was a huge black ball of dust, and I saw 4 lightning strikes at the same time. The wind was crazy too.)

There have also been a couple digital scavenger hunts through the young adults groups we've been going to, as well as a few bbq's and pool parties... It's been warm, but last week was much cooler (the coast was rainy I heard...) we were sitting around 25ish usually. It was a nice, comfortable time, and even when it was cloudy I didn't mind. I felt more at home maybe?

Had a couple down days this week, I've been missing home a bit and worrying about financial stuff. I was hoping to come down next week for a concert, but decided against it as it would cost too much, especially since I'd have to take time off work.

Speaking of work, I love it! It's a blast! Ok, well most of the time I love it, but last Thursday I was beat up by a 5 year old (kicked in the face, scratched on the hands, etc) ... He's normally a sweet boy but has an... interesting side to him when he doesn't get his way.

I'm also not loving the nasty virus going around work. We actually shut down the centre last Friday to disinfect EVERYTHING. We spent our shifts Viroxing every inch of our room, as well as mopping the gym floor and cleaning the walls. It's a particularly nasty virus. To make matters worse we've now been informed of a case of hand, foot, & mouth disease. Splendid. Let's just say my best friend has been my hand lotion to help with the increased amount of handwashing I've been doing!!

Anyways, off to bed I go to get lots of sleep to help my body resist nasty germs. I'll try to be a more faithful blogger. But it's summer so I'm allowed to slack off I guess.

Discovery!

Today was a mere 41 degrees.

I was hot.

I was cranky.

I was sweaty.

And then I discovered (after two months of living here and dealing with a hot dwelling place) that we have central air conditioning.

Felt like a tool for not knowing that, but at least I'm not boiling anymore. BEST DAY EVER!

It's Hot...

... and I'm tired. And although I have things I'd love to blog about, like the long weekend camping trip, and my week's happenings, I just don't have the energy. Today was only 34 degrees, but tomorrow's supposed to be 38 or higher. And it's so DRY here. It's time for sleep in front of our tiny fan...

My Weekend in Point Form.

Ahh what a weekend. I'm glad I didn't have to work on Monday because as of last Friday I had come down with the nasty cold going through the daycare. (I thought I'd last longer than a week but apparently my immunity has worn off.) After the crazy weekend, complete with its lack of sleep, excessive dancing, and social madness, I was wiped out.

Friday:

-Off work at 3, picked up new hot dress for Saturday's wedding from mall, went home and gathered everything. Got dressed and 'hottied up' for Erin's birthday party.

- Jason came home at 4:40, jumped in the shower, and we were in the car headed for the coast by 5:10. Don't know how we did it.

- Drove straight into town and to Roosters for Erin's party. Made it in time to avoid the lineup and for the guest list to still work.

- Lots of fun and country dancing. Discovered new way to get rid of annoying drunk guys trying to dance with me. Flash 'em the bling! Erin had to talk her way out of dancing with a few guys (even with her boyfriend there), but all I had to do was flip them the finger - the ring finger on the left hand that is - and they were gone! Ah, I love being married.

Saturday:

-Woke up at 8:30. A whopping 6 hours after going to bed. Jason went to Ikea and I went on a quest to find a black shrug for my dress. Nothing like last minute shopping.

- No luck, had to stop at Haney Place on the way to the wedding to see if Bryan's had one. They DID! phew!

- Witnessed our good friends Tyler (J's best man) and Jenny tie the knot. It was beautiful and the rain even stopped for their outside ceremony. They had an open bar, and I had a delicious margarita in a "Fun Cup" (as the bride referred to them - only 3 were available!) They even had their little pug Mrs. Wiggles (Wiggy for short) come out after dinner for some dancing!) I'm so happy for them and wish them all the best!

Sunday:

- Woke up early to get to church, again after going to sleep very late. A fantastic sermon dealing with some things I had been dealing with prior to and after the move. It answered a lot of questions, and made me feel a lot better about myself. I let some people make me feel bad about my choices, when my choices were entirely God-centred. And God knows that.

- Went to lunch with my dear friend Heather, who I hadn't seen in a long while and missed terribly while she was away. Caught up and heard a bunch of her tales from afar.

- Drove home, and yet again after the toll booth entered the land of Sunshine. I like it here!

Monday:

- Had the day off work to start at second job, but had decided over the weekend to stay at this job full time, as it pays better and has many great possible opportunities coming in the future. I'm excited to see what happens. I'm very interested in continuing with schooling to get my diploma (only 6 more courses) in special needs, and then after that continuing possibly to get my bachelors (over a long while, as I would still need to work and pay as I go. EXPENSIVE) in Child and Youth Care. But that's a bit off topic.

- Very glad I stayed home, as my cold caught up with me and I needed this day to rest. I slept almost 12 hours that night, and then went for a 2 hour nap in the afternoon.

I'm feeling a bit better today, but unfortunately it was a crazy, insane, every-child-off-the-wall kinda day. Very draining. We had 9 infants today, 3 of which screamed almost the whole day (it felt like a Tylenol advertisement) and most of which only had 30 min. naps. 30 MINUTES?! They usually sleep an hour at least, sometimes 2! Needless to say, it was a busy day. But I still came home loving my job. :)

What A Day!!

So I had an interview today at 10am. Went to that, was basically offered another job. (That brings the total of offered jobs to 6) I told her I would get back to her as I had another interview tomorrow and needed to mull it over a little bit. She wanted me to work a 6:30am shift, which I'm not entirely crazy about, but I do need a job so I said I'd get back to her. I have not been to an interview yet where they don't want to hire me immediately. Great for the ego, bad for the decision making process. Until the rest of my crazy God-day happened...

Let me go back a day to Sunday morning. We went to a church for the second time (I'm quite liking this one, it reminds me a little of Burnett...) The first time we had gone, a girl who runs the children's ministry (whose parents GO to Burnett... small world!!!) had said she was looking for someone with ECE. At this time of course I was trying to find something that wasn't ECE. So I didn't think much of it. Anyways, I wanted to go touch base with her and find out details. So as we're leaving the auditorium, their interim pastor who had just given the message says to J and I "Hey, I don't know you, who are you?" (How's that for a welcoming? haha) So he's chatting us up, and asking what we do. I tell him I'm currently looking for something and that I have my ECE. At this same moment, a lady is walking through the door and overhears this. She says "I know someone looking for ECE!!" and gives me her card to tell the daycare owner she referred me to her. Same time as all this, the young adults pastor (who we met last time) approaches to say hello and gets involved in this conversation. He runs to his office to get the daycare's card so I can phone. Apparently she is proposing to lease space from this church to open a second daycare in this part of town, and that's why he had her card.

Ok so back to today. I came home from my morning interview, made myself a glorious cup of coffee and called this daycare. She asked if I was available to come in today and drop off my resume. I finished my coffee and headed out there. (It's a 20 minute drive, but that's the farthest drive you'll get in Kamloops) So I go in, and after talking to the lady for a while, she asks when I'd be able to start. I tell her "as early as tomorrow" because I'd really like to start work asap... For some reason, I decide to take this job. All of the stuff from the day before seems to make this fall in place, and an added bonus - it pays more than what I was making in Maple Ridge. (Very rare in these parts)

So during the interview, a staff member comes in an informs the owner that she needs to go home because her son is quite sick. Now the centre is very short staffed... So I offered to start then if she needed the help! She said yes and I spent the afternoon mostly in the Infant/Toddler room, and then later with the school aged kids.

I've set a new record for myself.... Set up an interview, had the interview, got hired, and started my job - All on the SAME DAY!!!!

And the best part is, if the business proposal at the church goes through, I will be the first to move to that centre - and it's only a few blocks from home!

God certainly knows what He's doing. Right down to my sudden urge to make myself a cup of coffee... He knew I'd need the caffeine!!

Update

Ok so the reason I was trying to post daily (or close to) was because when I don't, I feel like I have too much to say when I finally do blog.

Went camping Friday night with a young adults group we've been going to. It was a ton of fun, except right at the end when we were playing "aluminum foil baseball" (ball was made from all the aluminum foil off of about 20 corn-on-the-cobs we had on the fire) ... By the time I got up to bat this thing was extremely compact. Think of a snowball compressed so much that it becomes an ice-ball. Similar concept. So anyways, I hit the ball, ran around the 2 bases (we had a very small area to play with, no room for a third base) and I got home! Clearly I was safe. 2 minutes later, I very unexpectedly received a blow to the face with the ball of metal. It was painful and I'm just hoping that it does not turn into a welt-like bruise as this coming weekend is full of birthday parties and weddings down in Maple Ridge. Other than that I had a good time and no I do not hold the girl who threw the ball responsible for my injury. She's a very nice girl, albeit perhaps with no aim.

1 wheelbarrow of wood = 5 dollars

Filling it up as high as you can and hoisting it on and off a pickup truck = priceless.

Biggest swingset EVER!

So other fun stuff from this week....... Wednesday was my first day of work at the furniture store. It was NOTHING like I expected it might be. It's hard to explain it all, but basically I picked up a very weird vibe in the way people talk to each other and about each other and about the owners. The lady who had hired me had said in the interview I would be starting full time... but when I started she told me I'd be part time for a while. She had also said in the interview that the I'd most likely be Monday to Friday because that's what the customer service people work... when in fact, the lady who was training me works very regularly Tuesday-Saturday. I wouldn't mind working a Saturday now and then, but with family out of town and such, I'd like to have some weekends available for visiting.

So anyways, I got home and was in tears out of disappointment. This was not how I was supposed to feel on my first day!! The next day I went in with an optimistic attitude, but alas, it was quite the same, only this time with the realization that I was going to be yelled at every day by irate customers. I decided that this was not the place for me. I prayed the whole day that I might be able to find a way to talk to the lady who hired me alone and not have to approach her and her parents (the owners) or other staff members. Sure enough, at 4:30 (I was off at 5) she comes to me and says she would like to see me during the last 15 minutes of my shift. Well that was an answer to prayer if I've ever seen one... So I went to talk to her and she informs me that I've been hired so that they can fire the lady who's training me. But they're not going to tell her until after she's trained me, with her thinking that I'm just hired as part-time help. I'm sorry, but this was the icing on the cake at this point... I did NOT feel right about any of this so I told her I was sorry and that I would not be returning.

I should've been listening to God all along. Of course I would feel burnt out after leaving Pitt Meadows - I was working 12 hour days with no breaks between my two jobs... But I've come to realize that I belong in Early Childhood Education, at least for a little while longer. And I've got a renewed excitement about it too! I've already picked up a part time job with a lady who runs a daycare out of her home but is looking to lease or buy space to open a centre. Of course I will need to supplement my hours in the beginning so I called about 5 or 6 daycares and I think only one of them is not hiring immediately but will be soon. Apparently up here having your ECE certificate is like carrying a Golden Ticket. So basically, I'm not worried, and from now on I'm SO going to listen to God...

I'll keep you posted... I have several interviews this week...